CVE-2024-44661 identifies a Cross Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the PHPGurukul Online Shopping Portal 2.0, specifically through the 'quantity' parameter in the my-cart.php script. XSS vulnerabilities arise when an application includes untrusted user input in web pages without proper validation or encoding, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts. In this case, the vulnerability is exploitable remotely over the network (AV:N), requires no privileges (PR:N), but does require user interaction (UI:R), such as a user clicking a crafted link or submitting a manipulated form. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality and integrity (C:L/I:L) but not availability (A:N). The attacker can execute arbitrary JavaScript in the victim’s browser, potentially stealing session cookies, redirecting users, or altering page content. The CVSS score of 5.4 reflects a medium severity, indicating moderate risk. No known public exploits or patches are currently available, which suggests that exploitation is possible but not widespread. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79, a common web application security weakness. Since the affected software is an online shopping portal, the attack surface includes customers and administrators interacting with the cart functionality. The lack of version specifics limits precise scope but implies all instances of version 2.0 may be vulnerable. The vulnerability’s impact is constrained by the need for user interaction and the limited scope of data exposure, but it still poses a risk to user trust and data confidentiality.

For European organizations using PHPGurukul Online Shopping Portal 2.0, this XSS vulnerability can lead to unauthorized script execution in users’ browsers, potentially resulting in session hijacking, theft of personal data, or fraudulent transactions. This undermines customer trust and can lead to reputational damage and regulatory scrutiny under GDPR if personal data is compromised. The integrity of displayed information can be manipulated, possibly misleading customers or causing financial loss. Although availability is not affected, the confidentiality and integrity impacts are significant enough to warrant attention. Since the vulnerability requires user interaction, phishing or social engineering campaigns could be used to exploit it. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate it. Organizations relying on this platform for e-commerce in Europe should consider the potential for targeted attacks, especially in countries with high e-commerce penetration and strict data protection laws.

To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should implement strict input validation and output encoding on the 'quantity' parameter in my-cart.php to prevent injection of malicious scripts. Employing server-side sanitization routines that whitelist acceptable input formats (e.g., numeric values only) is critical. Additionally, deploying Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts in browsers. Regularly updating the software when patches become available is essential. In the absence of official patches, consider applying virtual patching via web application firewalls (WAFs) that detect and block malicious payloads targeting the vulnerable parameter. Educate users about phishing risks to reduce successful exploitation via social engineering. Conduct security testing and code reviews focusing on input handling in the shopping cart module. Finally, monitor logs for suspicious activity related to the affected endpoint to detect potential exploitation attempts early.